As the qualifiers of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) get underway, four teams are heading to Tanzania's coastal city, Dar es Salaam from October 19 to 21 with eyes firmly set on clinching the single slot reserved for the winner of group C to advance to the elite 16 round.
The first qualifying phase for the 2024 BAL, which is the fourth edition of the premier African club competition has pitted hosts Pazi BBC against Kenya Ports Authority (Kenya), Dynamo BBC (Burundi) and Sebeta City (Ethiopia).
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Pazi BBC (Tanzania)
With a home court advantage, the 2022 Tanzanian champions are set to make their debut in the BAL qualifiers, becoming the fourth club the country has produced for the prestigious competition.
Despite being eliminated in the Semi-Final of the just-concluded 2023 national, Pazi, who are yet to reveal their coach for the upcoming assignment bolstered their squad with some experienced names.
Former NBA player and home boy Hasheem Thabeet is one of Pazi’s biggest acquisitions for the upcoming assignment.
The 36-year-old who joined NBA in 2009 after being drafted by Memphis Grizzlies and went on to feature for Houston Rockets, Portland Trailblazers and Oklahoma City brings a wealth of experience for the first timers.
The side also acquired the services of highly-sought-after guard Dhieu Deing who was part of the African team in this year’s 2023 GLOBL JAM tournament played in July and represented Cape Town Tigers in the last Road to BAL edition.
Landry Ndikumana who has played for City Oilers of Uganda (2019), Burundi’s New Star (2021) and Urunani (2022) in the last three editions of the Road to BAL, also adds to the side’s depth as they host the competition.
Local star, 25-year-old Haji Mbegu who played for JKT in the 2019 qualifiers and 33-year-old Erick Lugora who represented Kurasini in the 2021 campaign, averaging 16 points per game, are also part of the squad.
Dynamo BBC (Burundi)
The Robert Mugabe-coached side will be making a return to the continental competition, having made an appearance in the qualifiers to the inaugural edition held in 2021.
The team might have been out of the premier continental competition for the last two editions, but Mugabe believes they have what it takes to go all the way to the Final Round set for Rwanda in 2024, with proper preparations.
The tactician will rely on the services of the 204 cm (6’9’) South Sudanese forward David ‘Dekong’ Deng who featured for Cobra in the 2021 and 2022 editions of BAL.
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Nigerian teenage sensation Israel Otobo who was part of the national team in their quest for World Cup qualification earlier in the year adds to Dynamo’s versatile squad that also boasts the experienced Alvin Ninziza who captained the side to the 2022/23 national title.
Sebeta City (Ethiopia)
Under coach Daniel Worku, the Ethiopian champions will be the other debutant in Dar es Salaam. After two years with the side, Worku has his work cut out against more established teams.
His skipper Firafis Wogari will lead the troops to battle well aware of the magnitude of the task at hand and what is at stake. The shooting guard is the star of the team and alongside point guard Lionel Wolde, they will be expected to marshal the floor.
The side also has experienced Kenyan international Evans Leting who brings a wealth of experience as does his fellow forward Ochan Ojulu.
Kenya Ports Authority (Kenya)
They say third time's a charm and the Kenyan champions KPA hope that the saying holds true as they prepare for their third appearance in the Road to BAL.
At the inaugural edition held in 2019, KPA got their Road to BAL campaign off in style winning all their four matches to finish top.
They earned a ticket to the Elite 16 in Kigali where the Mombasa-based side defeated Ferroviaro de Maputo (Mozambique) 79-67 and Cobra Sports 83-53 but bowed out in the group stage, having missed their opening fixture against City Oilers (Uganda).
KPA made a return for the 2022 edition, booking an Elite 16 place after beating Djabal Basket Iconi (Comoros) 120-37 before losing 66-60 to hosts Club Omnisports de la Police (COSPN) in the qualifiers held in Antananarivo.
The Elite 16 hosted in Johannesburg saw the dockers go winless to exit the competition in the group stage.
The side is yet to reveal their squad for the upcoming assignment but coach Sammy Kiki has hinted at signing some of Kenya’s best talents with league Most Valuable Player (MVP) Eugene Adera and his national team compatriot Job Byron who have been KPA's driving force in dominating the local scene key for the tactician.
Group C, East Division
Fixtures:
October 19
Pazi BBC Vs Sebeta City
KPA Vs Dynamo
October 20
Dynamo Vs Pazi BBC
Sebeta City Vs KPA
October 21
Pazi BBC Vs KPA
Dynamo Vs Sebeta City.